House Votes to Repeal Obamacare on Slightly Bipartisan Basis

The House voted 244-185 this afternoon to repeal Obamacare. No surprise there; the only suspense related to how many Democrats would vote with the Republicans for repeal. In the event, there were five: Mike Ross, D-Ark.; Dan Boren, D-Okla.; Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; Larry Kissell, D-N.C.; and Jim Matheson, D-Utah. McIntyre and Kissell announced some time ago that they would vote for repeal, and Kissell, at least, has said that he will not support Obama’s re-election. Matheson is running against the dynamic Mia Love in Utah’s new Fourth District and, one can guess, expects a close race in which he didn’t want to be burdened with Obamacare. Ross is retiring, so presumably his vote reflects his actual views on the issue.

Having five Democrats on board allows Republicans to say the vote was bipartisan, but my guess is the Democrats are relieved that there weren’t more defections.